Alien in the House (27 page)

“The office will be easy enough. We'll want to go over with Jeff anyway, and he needs to go today. He has to be sworn in.”

“Joy, and I'm not even going to ask why that's happening today. But doesn't swearing in happen on the floor of the House?”

“Yes, but Santiago's office is in the Capitol complex. He was living there, too.”

“Really?”

“It's not completely uncommon.” Reader shrugged. “He didn't have time to apartment hunt. Anyway, if we're going to the Capitol, and we are, we might as well go through Santiago's office before someone else does.”

“Okay, but let's work on Eugene's stuff first. Right before he was shot, I was trying to get the location where he'd stashed this info out of him. It's not at his home, and not at his office. He said he was free and then he was shot.”

“He said he was free, as in, I'm out of jail?”

Thought about it. “No. He was trying to answer my question.” Ran the events back over in my mind. “Wait. He said he had the papers at work. So I asked, again, if he meant his office. He said no, he'd been free . . . but what if he was cut off mid-word? Free could mean—”

“Freelancing.” Reader let go of me, got up, and pulled his phone out of the pocket of his robe. “Sorry, I know it's early there. Oh? Well, I slacked off and got a couple hours of sleep. Okay. Look, I need work history run on Eugene Montgomery. Yes, the guy who poisoned Santiago. Yeah, focus on the most recent trails first. Could have been under the table. Yeah, search financials. Great, thanks, Serene.” He hung up. “She hasn't gone to bed, because you sent her the best Christmas present ever, I guess. She's excited about the explosive mechanism on the disc and the components making up the shielding.”

“Someone should be.”

Reader's phone beeped. He stared at it.

“What?”

“I'll give you three guesses where Eugene was freelancing. And the first two don't count.”

“I
PLAYED THIS GAME
with Omega Red last night. Let me skip my first two guesses and go for the answer he gave me. Gaultier Enterprises.”

Reader nodded. “Got it in one. The research facility.”

“Where Christopher found Malcolm, basically.”

“Yeah.”

“So, what do we do?”

Jeff came out of the bedroom, also wearing our Sleepwear Standard Issue. “Now that you two have made up, we have a fast meeting, then we all get showered, get dressed, and get going.”

“You were awake? All this time?”

Jeff grinned, came over, and kissed me. “Not the whole time. But with all the angst and worry going on in the living room, I woke up.”

“Sorry,” Reader said.

Jeff shook his head. “No, this was the most important thing the two of you could have done. Besides, gave me time to check on Jamie and everyone else who's staying with Paul. Per Abigail, the adults are all awake, something about the news being too ‘good' not to share with everyone, and she told me everyone's fine. They're going to keep the kids there today.”

“Denise isn't going to do daycare?” Decided we could talk about the news another time. Like never.

“She's doing it at the Pontifex's Residence. Gladys feels, since it's a smaller building with far fewer people coming and going, that it'll be easier to protect everyone there. Kevin agrees, as does Reynolds. Kevin's staying with everyone, though Reynolds and Paul will have to leave later today.”

“They'll be with us at the swearing in?” Reader asked.

“Yeah.” There was a knock at our door and Jeff went to answer it. He came back with Christopher, Amy, and White, all in their robes and PJs. We looked like we were either at a group day spa or a psych ward. Chose not to share this thought.

“Jeff said that something from last night was connected to Gaultier Enterprises,” Amy said as she plopped down on the loveseat. “So, what do you need from me?”

As Christopher joined her, White took the chair Reader had vacated, and Jeff started a pot of coffee, Reader and I caught everyone else up on the thinking.

“We need to find two things at Gaultier—whatever Eugene had hidden there, and possibly whatever he was working on, and information on whatever was given to Malcolm, hopefully including a cure.” Tried not to worry about Buchanan. Failed utterly.

“Getting in is no problem,” Amy said. “Legally, I can go anywhere I want in any Gaultier facility. The problem is finding what we need without giving anything away and before someone destroys whatever it is we're looking for.”

“I don't believe we can all go,” White said. “We discussed it after Representative Martini called us to an early summit meeting.”

“Uncle Richard, that's not funny.”

“No, but it's accurate. You need to get used to the title, Jeffrey. I doubt very much that you're going to be allowed to leave office as soon as you'd like.”

“Wonderful,” Jeff groaned. “Let's get back to Kitty's murder mystery theory for a while, okay?”

“Okay, and my father's right,” Christopher said. “I can go in as Amy's husband, and we figure we can use the excuse that she wants to impress her father-in-law, so she's giving him a tour.”

“That could work, really. I mean, Richard's the retired Pontifex, and that has cachet in more places than just with every A-C.”

Amy nodded. “That's what we were thinking. I'd love to bring Chuck along, but his cover's been pretty much blown along with everyone else's, so if I walk in with the head of the C.I.A.'s E-T Division, you know people are going to pay far too much attention to what we and he are doing.”

“Same goes for Cliff,” Christopher added. “I know he falls under the ‘met once we were in Washington' group, but even if he didn't, he's too high-ranking. But we need someone with higher-level skills than any of us have.”

Considered the options. “Take Doctor Wu with you.”

“You're kidding,” Amy said.

“No, I'm not. Of the five of them, Henry's the best with software and you need someone who can hack in in less than a minute and find what you need in less than five.”

“How do we explain him?” Christopher asked.

“
You
don't,” Amy said. “Because you can't lie. At all. Richard, if I do the talking, can you believably pass Henry off as your assistant?”

White nodded. “I'm not up to Camilla's standards, but since you'll be assisting me, I won't have any trouble with it.”

“Take Raj, too,” Jeff said.

Christopher made a face. “What do we want with a troubadour?”

“Wow, will you stop hating on him and his talent? Raj is great for this—and no one can charm like a troubadour. Other than you, James.”

Reader laughed. “Thanks, girlfriend. But I agree. I'd like to go to Gaultier, but honestly, my job is to protect you guys, and if we're still going with the idea that Vance is on to something, then I need to be guarding Jeff.”

“Raj works well with the squatters,” Jeff added. “They'll listen to him, and that means less whining from Wu.”

“Raj can also run point between you guys and us, so no one asks why Amy, her husband, or her supposedly interested father-in-law are busy texting instead of paying attention.”

“Okay, we're set,” Amy said. “I don't know that we'll be able to be done with all this before the swearing-in, though. Will it matter if we're not there?”

“No,” Reader said. “You could go, but Paul will be there, and as the Supreme Pontifex, his presence represents for every A-C, so you can be absent without it causing issues.”

“The press will find a way,” Amy said. “They always do.”

“Speaking of which, should we invite Mister Joel Oliver along?”

“Only if you want to present him as your personal photographer,” Reader said.

“Yeah, we do,” Jeff said. “I want him around—we can actually trust him, and he's the one who will know who's lying and who isn't.”

“You normally know that,” Christopher said.

Jeff shook his head. “We can't count on that, on any empath, any more. With devices that can block or overlay emotions, being an empath becomes less of an advantage. Now I can be lied to in even more ways than the rest of you.”

“Duh. I forgot. You guys need to search for three things. Omega Red found something like what we found—the emotional blocker that blew up—and the emotional overlay, but he found them not at Titan, but at Gaultier.”

“Well, aren't I so proud to hopefully become the head of Evil Incarnate.” Amy's sarcasm knob was definitely at eleven. “Does that mean we need to bring him along, too?”

“How do we pass off a blind guy as anyone's aide?” Christopher asked.

“There are ways, but I think he'll be happier staying home. Henry can connect to him, and that means we have someone downloading info here as well as there.”

“What will the rest of you be doing while we go perform corporate espionage?” Amy asked.

“Searching Santiago's office for clues,” Reader said.

“Prepping to get sworn in for the latest job I don't want to do.”

“Checking on Malcolm.”

“There's no change,” White told me gently. “Magdalena and Tito spent the night in the infirmary, but Mister Buchanan is still non-responsive.”

“I don't care. I'm going to see him before we leave.”

“Let's eat, shower, and dress first,” Jeff said. “Breakfast is ready.”

“How come you never make breakfast?” Amy asked Christopher as we headed for the dining room.

“Because I don't need anyone's votes.”

“I heard that,” Jeff called from the kitchen. “It's really because you're worse in the kitchen than Kitty is. No offense, baby.”

“Absolutely none taken. But I appreciate having yet more dirt on Christopher to use against him when he least expects it.”

“As if my not being a good cook is something to be embarrassed about?”

“It is when your wife thinks your cousin's cooler because he can and does cook.”

“I make my wife happy in other ways.”

“Yes, you do,” Amy said as we all sat down. “But sometimes a girl likes the little extra gestures that Jeff does.”

Christopher gave Jeff Patented Glare #1 as he served us plates of beautifully cooked and perfectly arranged food. “You cooked all this while somehow talking with all of us at the same time?”

Jeff grinned. “I don't give away political secrets, sorry.”

C
HRISTOPHER, AMY,
and White headed out right after eating so they could get going. I called Raj and told him what the plan was.

“I think that's wise. I'll get Henry and Yuri up and running, Ambassador.”

“Thanks, Raj. Any thoughts on all of this before we part ways today?”

“Yes, and a question. The question relates to the thoughts. What are you planning to do with Vance? As in, do you want to leave him alone in the Embassy complex, take him with you, or send him on his way? He doesn't belong with the group going to the Gaultier facility.”

Considered before I replied. “What do you think I should do with him?”

“I think you should bring him with you. In part so he can fill you in on what was discovered last night.” Raj sounded tense. Meaning he either was tense or wanted me to think he was tense, meaning he wanted me to think.

There was only one thing done last night for which I didn't know the outcome. “Vance's theory has merit?”

“I believe it does. Please ensure that you take Len and Kyle with you, especially since Mister Buchanan is out. I personally feel that when your most efficient bodyguard is the person attacked, extra caution should be applied toward everything.”

“Gotcha. Could you wake up the boys and Vance along with Henry and Yuri?”

“Will do. And Ambassador? Please be careful. I realize we're focused now on Vance's theory, but the assassins are very real, and out there, along with everything else.”

“I will do, Raj. You be careful, too.”

We hung up, and I went back to Jeff and Reader. “Raj is on it. We'll be taking Vance along with us.”

“Why?” Jeff asked flatly.

“Yeah, why?” Reader asked, in the same tone.

“Wow. I am totally and completely touched that the two of you are so jealous of my sort of budding relationship with Vance. We're taking him along to get the intel from last night regarding his theory. Raj thinks he's on to something.”

“It could send the wrong message, that he's with us at the swearing-in,” Reader pointed out.

“Maybe.” An old fact surfaced. “Isn't the official swearing-in date like the third of January or something?”

Reader and Jeff both stared at me. “You can't remember important things like our political status within the United States, but that random piece of information you can toss right up?” Jeff sounded shocked. Had no idea why. Coming up with this kind of random information was one of my go-to moves.

I shrugged. “Sometimes high school and college come back to me in odd ways and at odd times.”

“You're right,” Reader said. “However, because this is an appointment, and an emergency appointment at that, Jeff needs to be sworn in immediately.”

“Works for me. We can always leave Vance in Santiago's office, too, if we have to. Besides, it'll be interesting to see how the rest of the Cabal of Evil acts if Vance is hanging this tight with us.”

Reader nodded slowly. “Actually, that's a good point.”

“I like the Brewers,” Jeff said. “I don't think they're evil. I've never gotten anything negative from Ed toward any of us, and if we take the assumption that these empathic blockers and overlays didn't exist several months ago, then they aren't our enemies. I get why you don't like most of the rest of them, baby, but I really think the Brewers are okay.”

“What about Vance?” Reader asked.

Jeff shrugged. “He's excited to be helping, frightened of being killed, and willing to sleep with any and every member of our household.”

“Sounds like Vance.”

Reader chuckled. “Okay, so where do we meet up? Jeff has to be seen leaving, so we can drive or we can walk, but we can't take a gate.”

“What's the best impression to make?” Jeff asked. “I don't know that we want to walk the entire way to the Capitol complex, especially since it's still raining.”

“Raj wants us to keep Len and Kyle with us, so limo sounds like the right choice.”

“Wouldn't want the jocks to miss any of the fun,” Jeff said, sarcasm knob only at around a six.

“I'll meet you two in the garage, then.”

“Remember we're stopping to see Malcolm first.”

“Fine. Don't take too long having sex,” Reader said as he headed for the door. “Or I'll make you hoof it.”

Jeff grinned as the door closed. “I'll take that risk.”

I loved showering with Jeff. Since becoming parents, our showers together had been more infrequent, because amazing soundproofing in the Embassy or no, bathrooms really helped get a reverberating echo going and I'd woken Jamie up a couple of times.

But with her still safely at the Pontifex's Residence, we had free run.

Jeff and I were definitely on the same wavelength. We got out of our nightclothes as fast as possible and were in the shower in record time.

The shower was limiting in terms of positions, but Jeff having me up against a wall with my legs around his waist was, as had been proven many times since we'd first met and again last night, one of my all-time favorites.

In deference to Reader and the others waiting for us and the busy day ahead, we only did it a couple times, with me howling like a happy cat in heat. A couple times with Jeff, of course, didn't mean just a couple orgasms. I was a very satisfied girl by the time we actually cleaned up and dried off.

Jeff finished up in the bathroom and zipped out while I used the blow dryer. Most days I didn't bother, but since it was wet outside, there was no sense in courting a cold, or worse, so I put forth the effort.

Jeff was tying his tie when, hair dried, I went to the closet. The Elves had a nice white dress waiting for me. It did have slits up both sides, so apparently the Elves felt I should look sophisticated yet sexy today. Doubted this was the standard look for the Representatives' Wives Club, but apparently we did it differently at American Centaurion.

Sadly, this meant I had to wear heels. The Elves had left a black pair sitting under the dress. Wearing heels in the rain was not my favorite thing to do, but such was life in a place with actual weather. Still wasn't a big fan of weather, but kept that to myself.

Today I also had a trench coat with a hood hanging up. Clearly it wasn't cold enough for my long winter coat with the fur-lined hood, which was a pity, because I really loved that coat. I also wasn't sure that the Elves were right about the weather, but perhaps we had some rule about always wearing a trench in the rain. Decided not to ask lest Jeff again point out that I didn't remember the important things.

Jeff had left his trench and fedora in the closet. I brought them out with me. He shook his head. “It's not raining that badly and we're driving over.”

“You're going to be sworn in. Let's keep you dry. Put the hat and coat on now.”

He grinned and gave me a quick kiss. “No. People are waiting for us. But, I'll make you happy and wear them when we go out, okay?”

“Super.” Maybe, even within all the intrigue that was going on, we could fit in a quickie somewhere along the way.

Jeff laughed as I grabbed my purse and coat. “Glad to see you're still focused on the priorities, baby.”